Greetings, Would anyone know how safe it is to operate a digital camera in cold weather. Specifically the 10D. Im talking Canada cold like minus 20 celcius. Or would someone know a range for this camera because the info I find is vague. Will it damage the CMOS if it were below 0 degrees.

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From snowleopard/Jason (6,467) on October 3, 2004 10:10:36 PM CDT Did you check your manual? Reply

From waylnway/Wayne (1,961) on October 4, 2004 12:19:14 AM CDT Yes I did check the manual. It gives operating temp but no precautions on what may be harmful. Reply

From kennedy/Derek (12,338) on October 3, 2004 11:10:24 PM CDT Wayne: The manual says 0C as the lowest operating temp., but I have used mine in NW Ontario when it was -25 ish. Keep it warm in your jacket until you need to take the shot(s) and then put it back in your jacket. That's all I've done and have had no problems. I read several articles saying that cold temps actually helps digital cameras by reducing digital 'noise', but I'm thinking it's the LCD screens that can't stand the cold - also the batteries loose their power in colder temps. Reply

From waylnway/Wayne (1,961) on October 4, 2004 12:21:20 AM CDT Thanks for you input Derek. Thats what I would be concerned about the frigid weather freezing the sensor and cracking it or I dont know what. Thats why I was trying to gain some insight. Thanks kindly. Reply

From markj913/Mark (7,647) on October 4, 2004 8:28:33 AM CDT I've used my 300D in subfreezing temperature without problems, other than that my hands froze. Reply

From waylnway/Wayne (1,961) on October 4, 2004 11:44:24 AM CDT Thanks Mark. Reply

From deleted119173/deleted (3,012) on October 4, 2004 6:49:48 AM CDT As Derek said, batteries can be a problem in cold climates, so at -20c you can count on it to expire very quickly - sometimes long before you'd expect. One tip is to remove it and place it close to your body right up until you need it. Whatever you do however, don't keep warming up the camera itself! The variance in temperatures could potentially cause more damage than the cold alone. Below the manufacturer's recommended limits you're on your own, so you either risk the -20c or you don't. At the end of the day, if you have insurance it needn't be the end of the world. Reply

From kennedy/Derek (12,338) on October 4, 2004 9:16:59 AM CDT There is another sigger that lives in Alaska, that with some modifications uses his 10D in cold weather all the time. I can't remember what the mods are, but his name is Kevin, here is a link to him http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=134697 MAybe you should e-mail him to see what he has done to his camera. This may be of a benifit to you. Reply

From waylnway/Wayne (1,961) on October 4, 2004 11:48:08 AM CDT Thanks alot Derek. I will try and find out his methods. Reply

From waylnway/Wayne (1,961) on October 4, 2004 11:47:20 AM CDT Thanks Tim good advice, I forgot about my insurance policy (I would of course rather not have that be the case). Reply

From mstacle/Michael (870) on October 4, 2004 4:17:37 PM CDT Someone sort of touched on this earlier, about a rapid change in temperatures hurting the camera. Make sure when you bring it inside (to a warm environment) you wait awhile to turn it back on, as condensation may have formed due to temp change. Water + electronics = bad. Michael. Reply

From andag1/Andrew (167,781) on October 4, 2004 5:47:13 PM CDT I've heard that putting it in a sealed plastic bag until in comes to ambient room temperature is advisable as well. Apparently this reduces the risk of condensation forming. Reply

From matti/Matti (5,401) on October 4, 2004 7:38:54 PM CDT On long exporures you get benefit by low CCD/CMOS noise ratio. Battery life is much shorter in -20 If your battery last 100 pictures on zero temperature it will probably last only 10 to 20 exp on minus -20. A color LCD won't operate or it takes very long time to update display. I don't think that the electronics will be damaged on frost, of cause thermal load might do someting on longer period. For probably aurora pictures I used to keep my Kodak DC-120 for several hours on balcony, to get low CCD noise, but I did not put batteries there. Reply

From waylnway/Wayne (1,961) on October 5, 2004 2:10:18 PM CDT Thanks Matti Reply

From waylnway/Wayne (1,961) on October 5, 2004 2:09:48 PM CDT Thanks Andrew Reply

From waylnway/Wayne (1,961) on October 5, 2004 2:09:25 PM CDT Thanks Michael Reply

From bigpixel/Andrew (1,324) on October 18, 2004 1:59:32 PM CDT Hello Wayne, well I can tell you I have extensive experience photgraphing aurora in -35C temps! My digital 300D does extremely well. Very good batery life and the LCD doesn't even flinch and works almost as well as normal. DOn't do anything but warm up a spare battery if you think you might need it. I have shot for several hours on a fresh battery around -30C. In those temps you don't even need to worry about condensation because there isn't any moisture in the air! After -30C it's ALL dry cold. Just watch your breath in the photos as you'll exhale and get a fogged picture as your breath went in front of lens. My 300D has survived just sitting on a tripod for more than four hours turned off in -35C temps. I did get out once when it was -42C and it worked well still!! I didn't that for sure, I quit early that time. Regards, Andrew Reply

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